FG, however, stated that every government has the responsibility to cushion the impact of economic hardship on its citizens
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has insisted that the Federal government has removed fuel subsidy.
He made this known in an interview recently shared by his media aide, Nneamaka Okafor, while faulting claims by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and the Independent Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria on the matter.
TheNiche had earlier reported that El-Rufai asserted that the FG is paying more fuel subsidies than before while addressing journalists recently..
Also speaking on the issue, The Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ukadike Chinedu,
backed the ex-governor’s claim, saying the pump price of fuel should be around N900 per litre without subsidy.
“I have said before that the PMS subsidy has been returned, and the government said it was a lie,” he said.
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However, responding to the claims during a chat, Lokpobiri said that those alleging that the FG is providing subsidies for the product should back it up with evidence. .
He further added that every Government has the responsibility to cushion the impact of economic hardship on its citizens in all sectors, not just in the Petroleum industry.
Speaking on what he described as a sensitive issue, Lokpobiri said: “I don’t want to delve into that issue. It is a very sensitive issue. We should get all the facts.
“As far as I’m concerned, the President removed the subsidy, and it remains removed till today.
“Anybody saying that subsidy is being paid, it is left for the person to bring the facts, and then we will talk about them.
“It may not be determined by market forces, but let us deal with the price as it is today.
“Every government has a duty to do certain things, not only in the petroleum sector but in several other sectors, to cushion the effect and burden on Nigerians.”
